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MOMBASA, KENYA: A young couple in Mombasa is stranded and seeking for financial help to treat their 16 months old son who was born with (Hirschsprung), a condition that affects the large intestine and requires operation to pass stool.
Hamisi Musa underwent a first colostomy in his first week of birth after his stomach started swelling due to lack of an outlet to pass stool.
The doctors at Coast General Hospital (CGH) had diagnosed that the condition affected the large intestine (colon) hence the difficulty in passing stool.
Musa's father Hamisi Menza says he took his son to CGH where doctors diverted an artificial opening in the abdominal wall so as to bypass a damaged part of the colon.
However despite of the colostomy, his son has continued developing complications and now he is set to undergo another surgery to rectify the infection and swelling.
Menza said that the administration at Pandya Hospital requires Sh40, 000 before they can admit the child and proceed with any treatment.
"I was referred to Pandya to seek special treatment and they told me I have to pay Sh40,000 to admit my sick son money that I don't have. Plus the cost of treating him is way beyond my means. So I plead for help from well-wishers to save my son treated," said Menza.
"I cannot afford the money because I lost my Job at the restaurant as a result of being out most of the time to try and seek help for my son," said Menza.
He said he wanted to take his son back to CGH but the strike has been on and off and it has been hard to get any help.
Her mother Rehema Mohammed says his son cries continuously and she spends all the time looking after him and wishes her son condition can be solved once for all. "The child cries constantly and I fear he is getting worse by the day despite giving him prescribed medication," he said.
According to medical reports, a new-born who has Hirschsprung's disease usually can't have a bowel movement in the days after birth and in mild cases, the condition might not be detected until later in childhood.
Menza said anyone who is willing to help can reach him through the phone number 0715482910.
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